Don’t miss

I am on the train returning from my last of the season trips to Manhattan to see shows in order to vote for the Tonys.

It is definitely one of those responsibilities that falls into the wink category of “tough work, but someone has to do it!”

After a giggle, though, it is actually not easy scheduling enough time, while the shows are still running, to travel and, typically, pack as many shows as possible in three or four days per trip.

Admittedly, too, seeing some great performers doing some great work makes the late night trains or missed family time seem like a fair trade.

This year’s list of shows worth seeing is really long, but a few are particularly notable. I would say even, don’t miss them. While one or two of these might come to Proctors over the next few years, if you love the theater and like going to The City, I recommend them:

First, War Horse. A remarkably told story of a young boy and an amazing steed sent off to the continent to fight for England in World War One. Amazing puppets, lighting, acting. One of the best plays ever.

Second, and with an acting job by its lead, Mark Rylance, that amazes, the play Jerusalem. Also a British import, it is an “blow away” character study.

Third, Book of Mormon. Risky, outrageous language bordering and going over the line of sacrilegious, this musical dares to place myth and faith in context of human life.

Fourth, The Normal Heart. A play, with an unusual story of how it came to be produced, that focuses on the personalities of the early efforts to gain public attention and resources to acknowledge and research the beginning AIDS crisis. If you are near my age, this is a haunting telling of a time when the arts world was shaken and many friends lost.

Finally, and maybe oddly, Catch Me If You Can. I liked the film and read more about its amazing character, Frank Abagnale, Jr., but this musical tells the story surprisingly well using the “show” as metaphor for the two years or so of Frank’s “made up” life. It was my biggest surprise this spring.

So, hope you might partake and certainly share your reactions if you have or do!